Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have a phone conversation on the bus?

320 replies

LauderSyme · 05/12/2016 14:33

I travelled to work by bus today and thought I'd use the time to call my grandmother on my mobile. I work full time and am a single parent so finding the time to chat on the phone can be tricky. We talked for 20 mins or so, mainly about my dc. As I was getting off, an elderly couple confronted me quite nastily to tell me how rude I was and how disgusting it was of me to "force the whole top deck to listen to my conversation" and that I should "think twice before getting that thing out". I know other people's public conversations can be really annoying but I didn't raise my voice or swear or speak inappropriately. I think they were the rude ones! WIBU or were they?

OP posts:
jdoe8 · 05/12/2016 14:35

I hate people on the phone in a confined place. Most people shout down their phone, rather than just talking normally.

MadHattersWineParty · 05/12/2016 14:36

Yeah, it winds me up when people use the bus journey to do their calls. It's annoying, and rarely at a respectable volume. Wouldn't you prefer to have a conversation in private anyway?

nuttyknitter · 05/12/2016 14:38

YABU! No one wants to be forced to listen to someone else's tedious news. I was once regaled with a blow by blow account of a young woman's break up with her fiancé - the whole bus literally cheered when she got off!

Floggingmolly · 05/12/2016 14:40

If you "know other people's public conversations can be really annoying", why are you so surprised they found you annoying? You are other people (to other people).

What's sauce for the goose...

MsVanRein · 05/12/2016 14:44

I don't think you were unreasonable OP. Yes annoying when people shout down the phone but If you were chatting normally I don't see the problem at all. It's no different in that case to having a chat in person on the bus.

Sparlklesilverglitter · 05/12/2016 14:45

Its a pet hate of mine.

Years I've travelled to work by train andd there is always some dick shouting down the phone, Look nobody cares how you will sack x, pick up fish and chips or that your date hasn't called.

One night I was on the train home with my trainee and someone was shouting down the phone because we all want to hear in the carriage don't we. My trainee started reading his look out loud and the lady on her phone gave him the most dirty look- How could she not see that's what she was doing Confused

Original poster
LauderSyme · 05/12/2016 14:47

I put up with other people without needing to tell them how rude and disgusting they are!

OP posts:
EatTheCake · 05/12/2016 14:47

It bugs me so much!

I travel by train then tram to work and every sodding day there is some inconsiderate twat shouting away about there special snowflake, how Dave hasn't called, how the dog sleeps in the corner etc. No body on that bus/train/tram gives a fuck and doesn't want to listen to it

NavyandWhite · 05/12/2016 14:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DaisyQueen · 05/12/2016 14:48

I don't think you were being unreasonable at all. If it was a normal noise level conversation then how is it any different to chatting to the person sitting next to you. Honestly some people just like to moan about anything x

NavyandWhite · 05/12/2016 14:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ShelaghTurner · 05/12/2016 14:49

YANBU. Everyone saying it's rude, we don't want to listen to your calls etc, welcome to 2016. That sort of approach is ten years old. Like it or not life has changed. Our kids' generation won't think anything of it.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 05/12/2016 14:50

Other people are annoying full stop. You were no more annoying than most and the couple were being unreasonable. You have to expect other people when you get the bus.

Unless you're a bray-er or your grandmother is deaf AND YOU WERE SHOUTING.

Specialapplek · 05/12/2016 14:51

YABU.

BabyGanoush · 05/12/2016 14:53

Our kids generation don't talk on tge phone.

It's text/whatsapp/instagram or snapchat.

Talking on your phone like the OP did, in a confined space, is very 1990's style rude!

BringMeTea · 05/12/2016 14:53

I suspect you were talking rather more loudly than you think. YABU.

NerrSnerr · 05/12/2016 14:54

You were probably talking really loud and that's what was annoying. Busses can be noisy so you were probably shouting more than you realise.

EverythingEverywhere1234 · 05/12/2016 14:55

YANBU as long as you weren't shouting. What's the issue?! It's no different from just chatting to the person next to you. This is something that goes right over my head tbh!

Aimtomisbehave · 05/12/2016 14:55

So confused by pp! If your grandmother was there with you on the bus would there be the same reaction if you were talking to her for 20 min?

woodhill · 05/12/2016 14:57

I hate it too.

I can't bear it in the supermarket either whilst I am trying to concentrate on what I need, it's so distracting.

I think a quick text is better.

user1440873379 · 05/12/2016 14:58

YANBU, you don't much have time to talk on the phone normally so you had every right to call your grandma, its not illegal to talk on the phone, you were just trying to fit in a phone call to catch up with someone you care about

myoriginal3 · 05/12/2016 15:02

Mother takes to internet forum to see whether it was acceptable to have phonecall with her grandmother. The internet was divided after a heated debate.

lastqueenofscotland · 05/12/2016 15:03

20 minutes, yes YABU

Soon2bC · 05/12/2016 15:04

I used to think this was rude, however, how many times have i had to listen to conversations of people sitting next to each other. some speak very loudly and you hear their life stories.
now i think maybe they are not so rude, maybe i dont like it because i cant hear the full conversation and be nosy Grin

ElspethFlashman · 05/12/2016 15:04

If your grandmother was there with you on the bus would there be the same reaction if you were talking to her for 20 min?

If someone is sitting beside you, you turn to them and mutter.

If you're on the phone you have a"phone voice". You're definitely not muttering.

YABU.

I was on a 3 hr coach journey not long ago with a woman who decided it would be a great time to catch up with half her contacts list. OH MY GOD. I almost brained her.